Khan vs. Judah

The Next Boxing Superstar Will Be Crowned Today

Khan’s Story

As a kid growing up in Bolton, England, Khan's father, Shah Khan, had a huge influence on his son. Growing up in a working-class neighborhood, Khan’s father feared that he was too hyperactive as a youth and that his temperament would lead him down a bad path. He ultimately pushed the young fighter to take up boxing as a career when he was eight, and he began fighting competitively by age 11.The British fighter’s Pakistani background haunted him while struggling to be taken seriously as a star in the United Kingdom. "I know if I were a white English fighter, I would be a superstar in the world. I never get racial remarks (face to face), but it's always out there, which you can't stop,” said Khan in a recent interview.Yet skin color has not been the only obstacle that Khan has had to face. Boxing has had a long history of Muslim fighters, including Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali. But Amir Khan is not publicizing his faith the way Ali and Tyson have done. Regardless of his attempt to keep his faith private, whatever pre-fight documentary HBO may air, it will most likely highlight this part of Khan’s life.

When asked about his struggles to reconcile his faith and ethnic background with his celebrity personality, Khan replied, "They have to accept that I’m British. I went to the Olympic Games for Britain. I could have chosen to go for Pakistan if we were all like that. I’m a Muslim, but I respect other religions and other cultures."

Khan was able to overcome adversity throughout his career while fielding racist slants and terrorist labels in England. No better aspect of his persona illustrates his crossover superstardom as well as this.

Celebrity Persona

Khan is one of the most exciting prospects in boxing today. He is young, successful, talented, and charismatic, which has helped him gain an influence over his fans. So far so good for Khan, who has enjoyed great public attention and large demand from the media.“That’s the difference between America and Britain. In America, they treat me like a god. Everyone shakes my hand and says, ‘You have made one of the best comebacks ever in boxing,’” he says. Of course, timing — which couldn’t have been better for Khan — had a lot to do with his success. "Oscar de la Hoya came to see me train and Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao, and I can’t believe it. They want to be a part of me. They want to come to the gym to see me train."True superstars know what they can control, what only they can influence and what is out of their control. They focus only on those things within their control or influence, and let go of the rest. Khan has been able to do just that.He even learned about humility from one of the biggest superstars the sport has ever seen. Manny Pacquiao is involved in politics, music and boxing, but above all else, his involvement with charity is what sets him apart. Pacquiao's dedication to disaster-relief efforts and community building in the Philippines is unrivaled. The same can be said about Khan and his children’s charity work in Great Britain and Pakistan. The ability to influence the mainstream by using his celebrity status has given Khan a powerful tool that he uses to do good for people that are less fortunate. Now, that is the mark of a true superstar.